Maritime monitoring firm TankerTrackers reports that two Iranian supertankers, the Diona and Hero2, have crossed an area previously under a US naval blockade, carrying a combined 3.8 million barrels of crude oil — the first Iranian oil exports in roughly two months, according to the firm. An additional tanker carrying about one million barrels also reportedly made the crossing. The report joins multiple indications in recent days that the blockade is eroding ahead of a formal US-Iran memorandum of understanding.
The maritime intelligence firm TankerTrackers reported Wednesday that two Iranian supertankers — the Diona and Hero2, operated by the National Iranian Oil Company — have crossed an area previously under a US naval blockade, carrying a combined 3.8 million barrels of crude oil. The firm describes this as the first Iranian crude exports in roughly two months. A third tanker, carrying approximately one million barrels, also reportedly crossed the area. This report, first flagged by The Zioneer at 14:37 Jerusalem, confirms and advances earlier unverified claims made that same afternoon by Iranian state television, which said three tankers carrying 5 million barrels had crossed the Strait of Hormuz.
The thread began Tuesday evening, when Iran confirmed a deal with the United States allowing a resumption of oil sales, as The Zioneer reported at 21:14 Jerusalem. By Wednesday morning (09:34 Jerusalem), The Zioneer noted reports of millions of barrels en route to China. By 13:35–13:39 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported a third tanker departing Iran's Chabahar port and sailing past the blockade line — a report now corroborated by TankerTrackers' identification of multiple vessels. The two supertankers' movement, reported at 14:37, has since been restated with consistent vessel names and volumes across three published versions, suggesting no material contradiction has emerged.
In the broader regional context, the development follows a sequence of signals that the US naval blockade, enforced since earlier this year, is eroding. As The Zioneer reported on June 10, President Trump declared Iran 'finished' while 200 oil tankers, carrying 100 million barrels, transited the Strait of Hormuz under American escort. On June 16, Iran-aligned media reported three tankers and two cargo ships heading toward Iran — an indication the blockade may be lifting even before a formal US-Iran memorandum is signed.
What remains open: the exact routes and destinations of the Diona, Hero2, and the third tanker; whether the US Navy observed, facilitated, or contested any of these crossings; and whether the reported oil volumes represent a temporary test or the start of sustained resumed exports. The TankerTrackers data has not been independently verified by The Zioneer.
3 developments
- DevelopingSanction-busting oil tanker evades US Navy blockade by disabling AIS off Iran
- StrongIranian media reports three tankers, two cargo ships en route to Iran, suggesting blockade may be eroding
- StrongReport: Third oil tanker leaves Iran, sails past U.S. blockade to destination
- ConfirmedTrump declares Iran 'finished' as 200 oil tankers cross Strait of Hormuz
Source and signal
- Internal intake